Friction reduction assembly for a downhole tubular, and method of reducing friction

Abstract

A friction reduction assembly for a downhole tubular. The friction reduction assembly includes an electrically activated friction reduction sub. The sub includes a flowbore fluidically connected to a flowbore of the tubular and remaining open for fluid flow therethrough during both activated and non-activated states of the friction reduction sub. A friction reducer responsive to an indication of lockup of the tubular, wherein friction between the tubular and surrounding casing or borehole is reduced in an electrically activated state of the friction reduction sub. A method of reducing friction in a downhole tubular is also included.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A friction reduction assembly for a downhole tubular, the friction reduction assembly comprising:
 an electrically activated friction reduction sub including:
 a flowbore fluidically connected to a flowbore of the tubular and remaining open for fluid flow therethrough during both activated and non-activated states of the friction reduction sub; and 
 a friction reducer, the friction reducer including a pulser positioned within one of an annulus surrounding the flowbore of the friction reduction sub and a side pocket of the friction reduction sub, an entry opening of the annulus or side pocket in fluidic communication with the flowbore of the tubular, an exit opening of the annulus or side pocket in fluidic communication with the flowbore of the tubular, the friction reduction sub, in the activated state, configured to redirect a portion of fluid from the flowbore of the friction reduction sub through the annulus or side pocket and back into the flowbore of the friction reduction sub along a flowpath from the flowbore of the friction reduction sub through the entry opening, through the pulser, through the exit opening, and back into the flowbore of the friction reduction sub, fluidic pulses created in the fluid in the activated state by the pulser in fluidic communication with the exit opening and the flowbore of the tubular and passed directly into the flowbore of the friction reduction sub by the exit opening along the flowpath, the friction reduction sub further configured to block the fluid from passing through the pulser in the non-activated state of the friction reduction sub; 
 
 wherein friction between the tubular and surrounding casing or borehole is reduced in the activated state of the friction reduction sub. 
 
     
     
       2. The friction reduction assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the pulser is positioned within the annulus surrounding the flowbore of the friction reduction sub. 
     
     
       3. The friction reduction assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the pulser is positioned within the side pocket of the friction reduction sub. 
     
     
       4. The friction reduction assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the friction reducer further includes an electrically activated valve permitting access to the pulser in the activated state and blocking access to the pulser in the non-activated state. 
     
     
       5. The friction reduction assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a power generation sub and pulses from the pulser are used to generate power in the power generation sub. 
     
     
       6. The friction reduction assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the friction reducer includes a valve blocking access to a portion of the friction reduction sub in the non-activated state and permitting access to the portion of the friction reduction sub in the activated state. 
     
     
       7. The friction reduction assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a sensor detecting a lockup of the downhole tubular. 
     
     
       8. The friction reduction assembly of  claim 7 , further comprising a logging bottom hole assembly having the sensor. 
     
     
       9. A method of reducing friction in a downhole tubular, the method comprising:
 inserting a tubular having a flowbore into a borehole; 
 sensing a lockup of the tubular within the borehole; 
 activating an electrically activated friction reduction sub subsequent to a sensed lockup of the tubular, the friction reduction sub having a flowbore fluidically connected to the flowbore of the tubular and remaining open for fluid flow therethrough during both activated and non-activated states of the friction reduction sub, the friction reduction sub further including a friction reducer, the friction reducer including a pulser positioned within one of an annulus surrounding the flowbore of the friction reduction sub and a side pocket of the friction reduction sub, an entry opening of the annulus or side pocket in fluidic communication with the flowbore of the tubular, an exit opening of the annulus or side pocket in fluidic communication with the flowbore of the tubular, the friction reduction sub, in the activated state, configured to redirect a portion of fluid from the flowbore of the friction reduction sub, through the annulus or side pocket and back into the flowbore of the friction reduction sub, along a flowpath from the flowbore of the friction reduction sub, through the entry opening, through the pulser, through the exit opening, and back into the flowbore of the friction reduction sub, fluidic pulses created in the fluid in the activated state by the pulser in fluidic communication with the exit opening and the flowbore of the tubular and passed directly into the flowbore of the friction reduction sub by the exit opening along the flowpath to create fluidic pulses in the flowbore of the tubular, the friction reduction sub further configured to block the fluid from passing through the pulser in the non-activated state of the friction reduction sub; and 
 reducing friction between the tubular and surrounding borehole in the activated state of the friction reduction sub. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9  further comprising harvesting energy in a power generation sub as a result of activation of the friction reduction sub. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 9  wherein creating pulses includes moving a valve to initiate pulsing in the annulus or the side pocket of the friction reduction sub.